| In 139 B.C. Zhangqian was dispatched by Han Emperor to China’ s western neighbors to promote trade and friendly relations. From then on, for about 1000 years, a way was opened for communication between East and West via camel caravans exchanging goods and ideas. Silk, silk products, gun powders, technology of the paper production and many other goods from China would leave Xi’ an, the then capital of China, for such destinations as Damascus, Istanbul, Cairo, and Rome. Goods that China needed but did not produce themselves, such as ivory, precious stones, grapes, walnuts, tomato, water-melon, glass and aromatic stuffs, were introduced into China. At the same time the teaching and art of the Buddhism and Islam were spread to China along the Silk Road. As the tour traces the steps of the past history and the camel caravans, you will experience the region’ s diverse ethnic groups, its myriad ancient archaeological ruins and classic Buddhist manuscripts and paintings.
Also, during this journey you get to know some important monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism in East Tibet such as Labrang monastery and Kumbum (Ta’ er Si) monastery. You will be very impressed by the dense religious atmosphere, exotic custom, snow mountains, lakes, peculiar plants and rare wild animals in this highland.
Day 1 Flight home - Peking
Day 2 Peking - Lanzhou 2N in 3*Jincheng hotel
In the morning arrival in Peking airport then to Lanzhou by air, transfer to hotel. Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, has long been an important city on the Silk Road in history. The Yellow river flows through the whole Gansu province.
Day 3 Lanzhou-Bingling 80 km B/L
After the breakfast visit Thousand-Buddha Caves in Bingling over the Yellow River by boat. The grottos are firstly built in 420 AD and statues here are more older than those in Dunghuang Grottos. In the afternoon visit the Gansu Museum where the famous bronze models "Flying horses" unearthed in Lanzhou are displayed.
Day 4 Lanzhou-Xiahe 280 km 1N in 2*Labrang hotel B/L
In the morning drive to Xiahe, which is 2,900 meters above the sea level and almost exclusively inhabited by Tibetans. In the afternoon visit Labrang monastery, the most important religious centre on the northeast border of the Tibet region. The monastery created in 1710, as one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet area, has served for centuries there to connect the Tibetan and Mongolian Lamaism.
Day 5 Xiahe-Xunhua-Tongren 260 km 1N in 2*Huangnan hotel B/L
On the way to Tongren make a stop in Xunhua (the first station in Qinghai province), to visit the hometown of the 10th Panchan lama and especially the divine lucky tree. In the legend he was finally recognized as the "holy child" by help of recognition of the Pappel tree near the house his family lived. Arrive at Tongren in the evening.
Day 6 Tongren-Xining 210 km 1N in 3*Qinghai hotel B/L
Visit Longwu monastery of Gelukpa sect which was initially constructed in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) as a monastery of Sakya--sect and Wutun village the center of Tibetan Regong-art, which is a successful mixture of religious art and folk art. Afterwards go to Xining, the capital of Qinghai province. This city is mainly inhabited with Tibetan but also a home of Uygur, Kazak and Hui minorities.
Day 7 Xining-Kumbum-Koko Nor 26 km + 160 km 1 N in simple tent hotel B/L
While traveling, visit Kumbum monastery (Ta’’er Si) of Gelukpa-sect, which was built in 1560 in Huangzhong county and also one of the six grand monasteries in Tibet. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Lamaism "yellow hat sect", was born here. As Kumbum Monastery has always been playing an important role to connect the Mongolian with the Lamaism, today many Mongolian come to this place for worship. Then cross over Sun-and-Moon-Mountain (Ri Yue Shan). In 641 Wencheng princess of Tang Dynasty passed by this mountain where today a sun-pavilion and a moon-pavilion are built on the summit for people to have a break. The suns and moon mountain has always been an distinguish line between meadow and agriculture area. After that make a short trekking by the Koko Nor Lake, the biggest salty lake in China, with an area of 4,500 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,194 m. high above sea level. The big lake is acclaimed as "pearl on the highland" and the scenery of which is unusually fascinating and appears different shapes even at the same time. "Koko Nor" in Mongolian language means "blue lake" because of the lunar shape and the color of the lake.
Day 8 Koko Nor-Chaka-Delingha 460 km 1N in simple Haixi hotel B/L
After a appox. 200km long driving make a short stopover by the Tsaka salty lake where even the wind should be salty. Then drive over the Gobi Desert and arrive in Delingha in the evening.
Day 9 Delingha-Dunhuang 470 km 2N in 4*Solar Energy hotel B/L
On the way cross over Dangjin Shan pass which is more than 4000 m. high above sea level. After a long journey arrive in Dunhuang oasis.
Day 10 Dunhuang B/L
In the morning camels carry you through the Singing Sand Dunes to the beautiful Crescent Spring Pool (approx. 5 km away from Dunhuang). Time permitting, climb a 200-meter-high sand hill nearby.
Day 11 Dunhuang-Turfan, night train K889 2102/0636 1N in the train (soft sleeper) B/L
In the morning visit Mogao grottos in Dunhuang, which is one of the greatest examples of Buddhist art, and symbol of East-West cultural exchange. Then drive 2 hours to Liuyuan, where go to Turfan by rail.
Day 12 Turfan 2N in 3*Oasis hotel B/L
In the morning arrive in Turfan, the exotic "Land of fruits and melons", which is situated 500 feet below sea level and separates the Silk Road’’s northern and southern route. Then transfer to hotel to have a break. After breakfast visit the Thousand-Bouddha Caves of Beziklik which is located in the Blazing Mountain. Afterwards visit ruins of Gaochang, an ancient city of more than 2000 years old as well as the Astana Graveyards (40 km away from Turfan).
Day 13 Turfan B/L
In the morning visit the ruins of Jiaohe city 10 km to the west of Turfan. The graperies in Turfan has long been to benefit form the underground ditch-net. In the afternoon drive to Valley of Vineyards where enjoy the delicious seedless grape and get to know how Karze, the underground irrigation system works.
Day 14 Turfan-Kashgar night train K886 1538/1316, 1446 km 1N in the train (soft sleeper)
In the morning free. In the afternoon start to go through the Taklamakan-desert in the Tarim basin by rail.
Day 15 Kashgar 1N in 3*Seman hotel
In the afternoon arrive in Kashgar, an ancient oasis city. The balance of the day free.
Day 16 Kashgar-Urumqi flight XO9902 2125/2255 1N in 4* Holiday Inn B/L
Visit the Sunday-bazaar where many Uygurs do business. This bazaar is considered as the biggest free market with all kinds of goods in central Asia. Afterwards visit the Id Kah Mosque and the Tomb of Abakh Hoja where the "Nice smelling concubine", an Uygur national heroine is buried. In the evening transfer to airport, then fly to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and China’s westerly province. In Uygur language Urumqi means "beautiful meadow". This city lies in the northern foot of the Tianshan-mountains and the three sides of which are surrounded by mountains.
Day 17 Urumqi-Xi’an flight XO9201 1800/2100 3N in 4*Royal Nikko hotel B/L
In the morning visit Heavenly Lake, which covers an area of nearly 5 sq. km with an altitude of 1900 m high above the sea level. The clear water is 90 m. deep and formed by the melted ice-water from high mountains. The snow summits around the lake spear high into the sky. In the afternoon transfer to airport, and then fly to Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province. The city was once the capital of eleven Chinese feudal dynasties and the original starting point of the Silk Road.
Day 18 Xi’an B/L
In the morning visit the Museum of Terracotta-Army where three underground vaults open to the public, displaying thousands of life-sized terra-cotta warriors, horses and chariots, all arranged in battle formation of that time. Besides, visit Da Yan Ta (Big-Wild-Goose-Pagoda), which was allowed to establish in 650 by Li Zhi, an emperor of Tang Dynasty.
Day 19 Xi’an B/L
In the morning visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the Ming City Wall. After lunch visit the Great Mosque of Ming Dynasty in which Muslims worship. The minaret is built in Chinese pagoda style and the mosque resembles the Chinese temple and monastery that shows the integration ability and the influence of Chinese culture.
Day 20 Xi’an - Peking flight WH2123 0840/1010, Peking - home flight B
Fly to Peking. After a stopover at the Peking airport, fly back home.
End of the tour.
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